Resume

IT Consultancy

Provided hardware and software systems solutions and support including hardware and software selection; network installation, configuration, and troubleshooting; and customized software development for various clients both in Sri Lanka and across the globe. Worked on a variety of remote projects with various clients around the world and always delivered results successfully and on time.

Systems Analysis and Design

Provided comprehensive analysis of needs for various solutions like payroll, inventory control, general ledger, helpdesk, and support systems, etc. for major corporations as well as for individual clients. Created systems designs and database structures that were utilized both by myself and others to create a software solution.

Systems Development

Coded and troubleshot software applications in a variety of computer languages including XBase, Perl, Delphi, Java, PHP, Ruby, C/C++, C#, ActionScript (Adobe AIR) and Objective-C (iPhone) based on my systems analysis and design as well as systems designs done by others. Contributed code to several open source projects and worked remotely as part of several software development teams. Mentored junior developers and oversaw the development of several projects as project manager.

Systems Administration

Managed corporate LANs as well as Linux and Windows servers at several web hosting companies in VPS, non-VPS, and shared hosting environments. Installed and configured VPS servers; compiled and installed various Linux applications such as Apache, PHP, mySQL, and security utilities. Managed load balancing of servers as well as end-user troubleshooting and responding to customer helpdesk tickets.

Project Management

Managed teams from two to 10+ people in various different projects including software development, television production, and newspaper publishing. Mentored team members, managed project timelines, attended management briefings, and generally ensured that the projects were on schedules and that deliverables were met.

Editing

Editor of a national gadgets magazine, script editor for a television production company which broadcasts its programs over most of South Asia, and editor of peace pages for three national newspapers in three languages (English, Sinhala, Tamil). Edited various corporate and business materials (including reports, white papers, and brochures). Experienced in copyediting, content editing, style editing, and proofreading.

Writing

Professional writer for well over a decade with experience in magazine, newspaper, business, and script writing. Author of over 200 articles in seven national publications.

Business and Corporate Writing

Developer, writer, editor, and designer of a wide range of business materials including brochures, newsletters, and annual reports.

Technical Writing

Developer, writer, editor, and designer of a range of technical materials including software user manuals and help files.

Freelance Software Developer and IT Consultant - January 2007 to present

Created over 30 (at present) iPhone applications both under own company and for clients. These include several AR (augmented reality applications) as well as applications for social networking (Twitter, RSS, podcasts etc.), kids games, financial applications, and utilities.

Recommended, installed, and trouble-shot hardware and software to meet the requirements of clients.

Worked closely with personnel from Lanka Internet Services (Pvt) Ltd., the first ISP in Sri Lanka, on establishing Internet connectivity in Sri Lanka and promoting Internet services via media and at public presentations (back in 1994).

Worked with a major BPO service provider in Sri Lanka to write, edit and design their brochures and other company documentation including project proposals, company profile, website content, etc.

Wrote technical documentation, user manuals and in-depth descriptions for various client application suites including a contact centre application, an ERP package, and a subscriber management system (SMS).

Wrote and edited product brochures and user manuals for customers including detailed documentation for a Singapore-based global company launching their new product range aimed at the broadcast sector.

Wrote regular articles about Sri Lanka, its history, culture, and people for Travel Sri Lanka magazine.

Wrote various articles, reports, and press releases for clients.

Edited a weekly page about the ongoing peace process produced in the English, Tamil, and Sinhalese languages for three major newspapers published in Sri Lanka.

Wrote a column on electronics and gadgets for Adoh!, a popular monthly magazine in Sri Lanka.

Wrote a column on leisure activities in and around Colombo, Sri Lanka for Urban Brown, a monthly magazine in Sri Lanka.

Wrote a computer education related column, The Cyberian, for the Mirror Magazine of The Sunday Times, a leading weekend paper in Sri Lanka.

Wrote a weekly column, Off My Bookshelf, for the Mirror Magazine of The Sunday Times in Sri Lanka.

Wrote a feature column, CyberBabble, for the PC Quest magazine issued with the Midweek Mirror.

Managed teams in charge of producing the content for the company web site on various programmes developed by the company and being in charge of overall editorial responsibility for the content.

Managed a team in charge of developing promotional material and trailers for the various programmes produced by the company.

Managed three separate teams involved in producing a weekly page each for leading newspapers in the English, Sinhalese, and Tamil languages.

Managed a team of 10+ members involved in producing a weekly television programme Young Outlook and ensured that production continued smoothly and on schedule.

Managed the IT department and responsible for hardware/software purchases.

Developed special systems required by management for day-to-day operations.

Developed TV spots promoting IT for ICTA, the Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka. Created the concept, wrote the scripts, created music concepts, created concepts for graphics, directed and sat through editing process, and pitched and sold ICTA on the concept.

Developed graphical front-ends for several corporate databases using Jade, a rapid application development tool for Java.

Developed and maintained the company web site at www.dciusa.com (project was stopped at the initial stage itself to make me available for other work) which involved a dynamically generated report accessing internal databases using ODBC and PERL.

Maintained ADP payroll system and provision of reports using Crystal Reports.

Provided software and hardware support and troubleshooting for company personnel.

Set up and maintained Internet server using Microsoft IIS and e-mail server based on IMail.

Interfaced with systems such as PeachTree and ADP to provide management reports.

Television Producer, Computer Systems Administrator, Young Asia Television (YA*TV), Colombo, Sri Lanka - September 1995 to October 1997

Wrote the script for and produced a social issues-based television programme Space to Let.

Wrote scripts for another weekly magazine programme, YA Tribe.

Scripted and produced a weekly documentary-based magazine programme called I Zone.

Managed the research department and ensured that all programmes received requested research in a timely and efficient manner.

Managed and controlled Internet and e-mail access for the company.

Managed network security and connectivity as well as troubleshooting.

Advised management on hardware and software purchases.

Produced computer graphics used in several of the programmes produced by me.

Developed in-house programs using Visual FoxPro to meet various monitoring and inventory needs.

Interviewed on television (for broadcast on a national network) regarding new trends in IT in the coming years with focus on mobile devices and notebook computers.

Participated in a chat programme on television (broadcast on national television) regarding Web 2.0 and its impact on society.

Interviewed in my position as Editor for C3 magazine for an article that appeared in The Sunday Times

Interviewed Arthur C. Clarke as a freelance reporter for The Sunday Times.

As a panellist, took part in a public discussion/debate on the effects of the Internet in Sri Lanka.

Part of a think tank group set up by the government to decide how to make use of or gain profit from the Internet.

Panellist and speaker in a series of seminars conducted by Lanka Internet (an ISP) to popularize the Internet in Sri Lanka when it first appeared here.

Conducted seminars for journalists. First was conducted by US personnel by the US Information Service (USIS) for Sri Lankan journalists - assistant. In the second, was a co-conductor and presenter for refresher for media personnel on the same subject. Both were for journalists to make them aware of resources available to journalists online for research and information gathering.

Public speaking - appeared and talked about IT (information technology) education at various events and schools.

Open Arc Computer School - talked to their prospective students on IT opportunities and the scope for IT education in Sri Lanka.